I encourage you to take a moment and be thankful for what you have and maybe start simplifying your life by getting rid of some of the crap you don’t need.

I know I will only reach a few individuals who are already on their own program and not a part of the herd.

However, I will still ask those few I do reach to take a step away from the materialistic “I Must Have It And Have It Right Now” social structure that has you dancing like a Circus Monkey on Black Friday.

Here’s a quote I like for this holiday season.

“Advertising has these people chasing cars and clothes they don’t need. Generations have been working in jobs they hate, just so they can buy what they don’t really need.”

If your (local) business serves food and drink and depends on customers spending their hard earned money on that service in your facility, I highly suggest you take a hard look at your employee cell phone policy.

The Cell Phone is the Death of Customer Service.

Nothing is more infuriating than watching you waitress fiddle with their cell phone while they neglect their basic customer service duties.

I am taking customer service back and encourage you to stand up and do the same.

The percentage to tip a waitress or waiter usually depends on the level of service received. Tip a waitress 15% for average service. For exceptional service, a tip of 20% is expected.

It’s also recommended that poor service should be tipped at least 10%. I say bullshit. I will not reward bad service. That’s encouraging bad service and also a big part of the problem.

I’m putting the servers on notice. If I catch you fiddle-farting around with your cell phone instead of providing customer service, I not only will withhold your “TIP” I will personally let you and your employer know why you are letting “TIP” money stay in my pocket and walk out the door.

And now to help solve this customer service crisis…

My advice to the Waiters, Waitresses and Bartenders of the world.

-Business owners make money when their business is successful.

-Great service makes customers feel special. Customers that feel special keep coming back and spend money where they get that feeling.

-Never underestimate or pre-judge your customer.

-Your reputation is your responsibility.

-Your goal should be to have people come back to the place you work and look for or request you. (and give money to you)

-Laugh and smile. Especially at yourself when you screw up. It makes people realize it’s unintentional. That your mistake wasn’t personal.

-Make eye contact. Acknowledge people. Let them know you are aware of them.

-Sell them drinks. A customer should never be with an empty glass. Sell them another drink before they need one.

-Stay off your cell phone and get your ass out from behind the bar.

-If they are paying with cash make sure you bring them enough singles for them to leave you a gratuity.

How does this relate to the book called “The SHTF Art of War”?

I conclude my book with a list of 22 Post Apocalyptic Professions. In a Grid Down environment customer service will mean more than ever when your life depends on it.

Feel free to pass this on to your friends who are dissatisfied with the downward slide in customer service or someone you feel could benefit financially from my advice.

If you haven’t read “The SHTF Art of War” yet, and want to know how the bad guys are going to operate when the lights go out, fear not. You can get it immediately with no waiting on KINDLE.

Knives are a very hotly debated topic! Especially the debates on the so called tactical knives.

Hunters and gatherers have had a personal opinion about which cutting instrument is best since the first flake was chipped off an obsidian stone.

After all, the knife was the tool that allowed us to climb quite a few links up the “food chain”.

I’m not going to debate which knife is best. That’s entirely a matter of personal preference based on lifestyle and occupation. If you want that sort of thing, there are plenty of knife forums on the web to keep you reading for the rest of your life. Probably 2 or 3 lifetimes.

This writing is about what knife I find I most carry.

I have found my go-to “Goldilocks” knife has been my Cold Steel, Hold Out 2.

Goldilocks, meaning it’s not too small and not too big.

In my experience, you need to be able to get a lot of grip (real-estate) on a knife handle to actually do knife chores with it. This knife offers that.

Small knives are fine when you’re out and about at some fancy shin-dig with your lady friend and don’t expect to need a big blade. However, for everyday man work in the working world, a knife needs to be relied upon to handle some tough duty. Sometimes that duty may require the blade to go above and beyond its call.

The Cold Steel Hold Out 2 is a very solid knife. The “Tri-Ad” lock has no play (wiggle) after 2 years of heavy use. I’m an avid hunter and outdoors-man and this knife is a constant companion. This knife sees plenty of field use.

The knife sports a 4 inch blade and an overall length of 9 inches. I find 4 inches of blade seems to be just the right length for just about any knife job I run into. If I run into a job that’s bigger I go get my axe or machete.

I’m also not a big fan of serrations on a blade.

A word about the AUE-8 Steel that this knife is made out of. It works.

I’m not a knife maker or metallurgist. I’m a regular fella that likes a knife to cut what I want it to cut. I keep things simple. Sure, I agree, there’s better steel out there for a knife blade than AUE-8.

However! I think the first rule of owning a knife should be to learn how to sharpen that knife on a stone. I believe this is a skill that’s not being passed down. If you own a knife you should know how to sharpen it on a stone.

I think too many people buy a knife that’s sharp right out of the box and use it until it’s dull. They then get one of those cheap little knife sharpeners that you pull the blade through and screw up the angle of the cutting edge. They then complain that the blade won’t hold an edge.

Learn how to sharpen a knife. Don’t be afraid of looking bad when you’re learning something new. Just like learning how to ride bike for the first time, no-one looks good learning something new.

I’ve always said that in life all you need is a good knife and a good plan, however, there’s no substitute for knowledge as well.

So obtain the best knife you can afford. Keep it sharp and carry the damn thing.

If you haven’t read “The SHTF Art of War”yet, and want to know how important your knife will become when the lights go out, fear not. You can get it immediately with no waiting on KINDLE.

Just click the image below.

P.S. I am a self diagnosed “knife-oh-holic” and would love to hear from others about what blade they find to be their “Go-to” blade.

“We are entering an increasingly dangerous period of our history. Our population and our use of the finite resources of planet Earth are growing exponentially, along with our technical ability to change the environment for good or ill. But our genetic code still carries the selfish and aggressive instincts that were of survival advantage in the past. It will be difficult enough to avoid disaster in the next hundred years, let alone the next thousand or million.

~Steven Hawking

If you feel desperate people will be aggressive during a societal collapse, I highly suggest you read “The SHTF Art of War”.

You’ll need to work on securing your place within the group. Having some kind of medical, technical, mechanical, or other practical skill will go further than being a Starbucks Barista, customer service technician at Walmart, bank teller, or salesman.

To be a real asset to a survival group or community rebuilding after a societal collapse, you’ll need to bring more than your bug out bag and tricked out assault rifle. You’ll need to bring something more substantial to the survival community or group.

In fact, if you walk up to a desperate survival group and want to join and have no other value to that group other than your shiny new assault rifle, you may not own that rifle for long.

The leader will look upon you, judging whether you are an asset or liability to the group. He’ll have to consider whether or not you’re worth the precious food and water it will take to keep you within the group. The leader will more than likely assign a value to you. Increasing your value to the group also increases your overall survivability within the group. You goal is not to be on the expendable list.

In a collapsed world that’s reliving the dark ages, there will be plenty of needs to fill.

In no particular order, I have compiled a list of 22 post apocalyptic professions listed in my book “TheSHTF Art of War” for you to consider.

Farmer

Shepherd

Gardener,Botanist, Herbalist

Well Digger

Engineer

Cobbler or Shoe Maker

Seamstress and Tailor

Trapper

Bait Shop Owner

Knife maker

Blacksmith/Metal Worker

Moonshiner

Candle Maker

Bowyer and Fletcher

Gunsmith

Muzzle Loader Specialist

Teacher

Soap maker

Laundry Washer

Potter

Brothel Owner

The world’s oldest profession has been a part of every civilization since the dawn of man. Prostitution is still making people money on every continent today.

Trading Post

In the past, trading posts in general were of great importance. Trading posts were not only a place for buying, selling, and exchanging goods. It was a place for people to meet and exchange the news of the world or simply the news from their home territory. In a world where the internet and other forms of information are non-existent, these new trading posts along routes of travel will be a hub of activity. Owning one of these trading posts, in the right location will put you in midst of information and in the middle of the flow of trade goods.

During the California gold rush, most of the money wasn’t made by the masses of would be miners flocking to the Sacramento Valley in early 1848. The big fortunes were made in land speculation and services provided for the miners. Few of the men who actually toiled for gold made lasting fortunes. Even when they found large quantities of gold, they were swiftly parted from their fortunes. Who became rich? It was the storekeepers, riverboat captains, women of ill repute, laundry workers, card dealers, and more.

If you don’t have a skill or service to offer a post collapse community, I highly suggest you read “The SHTF Art of War” and start becoming an asset.

A new movie about the biblical character Noah is set to hit theaters in 2014. The movie stars (Maximus Decimus Meridius) aka Russell Crow.

“Are you not entertained?!!!”

Noah being the Christian bibles Original Doomsday Prepper, it will be interesting to see how Hollywood has Noah deal with all those that ridicule him for his “prepping activity”… and how he turns away those that rush last minute to the closing doors of the Ark.

“when they come, they will be desperate and they’ll be many.”

If you haven’t read “The SHTF Art of War” yet, and want to know how the unprepared desperate and many are going to come after you and your Ark, let not your heart be troubled. You can get it immediately with no waiting on KINDLE.